Rudolph the Great
Goren Bridge
Bob Jones
| Dlr: North | ♠ A K | |||||||||||||
| Vul: All | ♥ J 10 9 3 | |||||||||||||
| ♦ 6 4 | ||||||||||||||
| ♣ A Q J 10 9 | ||||||||||||||
| ♠ J 9 7 4 3 | ♠ Q 10 6 5 | |||||||||||||
| ♥ 8 7 6 | ♥ A K Q 2 | |||||||||||||
| ♦ — | ♦ K 3 | |||||||||||||
| ♣ 7 5 4 | ♣ K 8 6 | |||||||||||||
| ♠ 8 2 | ||||||||||||||
| ♥ — | ||||||||||||||
| ♦ A Q J 10 9 8 7 5 2 | ||||||||||||||
| ♣ 3 2 | ||||||||||||||
|
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*Negative
Opening lead: ♥7
Another deal thanks to Richard Pavlicek, who tells us that it was played at the mythical North Pole Regional. South was Rudolph, a reindeer with legendary declarer skills. Rudolph’s leap to seven would not meet with everyone’s approval, but anyone could take 12 tricks in diamonds, so it wouldn’t be much of a story if he hadn’t bid seven.
The opening heart lead was covered by dummy’s nine, East’s queen, and ruffed by Rudolph with the ♦7. Dummy was entered with the ♠A to lead the ♦4, East playing the three and South the two. The ♥10 was covered by the king and ruffed by Rudolph, who then cashed all but one of his trumps, discarding all of dummy’s clubs except the ace. This was the position:
| Dlr: North | ♠ K | |
| Vul: All | ♥ J 3 | |
| ♦ — | ||
| ♣ A | ||
| ♠ — | ♠ — | |
| ♥ 7 6 | ♥ A 2 | |
| ♦ — | ♦ — | |
| ♣ 7 5 | ♣ K 8 | |
| ♠ 8 | ||
| ♥ — | ||
| ♦ 5 | ||
| ♣ 3 2 |
Rudolph led a spade to the king and the defense was helpless. East had to keep both hearts or a heart ruff would establish the jack. West also had to keep both hearts, or the lead of the jack would establish the three. Both defenders shed a club, so Rudolph cashed the ♣A, following with the three, and ruffed a heart. He took the last trick with the ♣2!
